It is the most poetic and philosophical writing in the new testament. The book of 1 st john is a general epistle apostolic letter. General introduction overview suppose you are heavily involved in some cause or movement. I john was written to combat false teaching concerning the person and work of jesus christ. Paul had established a strong church in ephesus, with the help of a married couple, priscilla and aquila, during his second missionary journey, around the year 50 ad. The future of the apostle john, sometimes called the beloved or the revelator, is a mystery to the world.
It is written by the discipleapostle john around 8595 a. During his life, john wrote the book of john and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd book of john and the book of revelation. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touchedthis we proclaim concerning the word of life. The paperback version is available from amazon and other online booksellers first, second, and third john, sometimes called the epistles or letters of john, are like trail mix concentrated, chewy, and nutritious. John encourages believers that jesus was jehovah god who had come in the flesh, that god is light and he encourages christians to walk in the light by keeping his commandments, and the main commandment was to love god and love one another. That suggests that its background and its basic meaning is determined by its purpose in that historical context.
Like all books and letters in the bible, knowing the background of the writing helps the words to come alive. The first epistle of john, often referred to as first john and written 1 john or i john, is the first of the johannine epistles of the new testament, and the fourth of the catholic epistles. Paradoxically, this dualism also led to licentiousness. John combats most likely reflects the beginnings of gnosticism see background and setting. In other words, it comes from a specific historical context.
The gospel of john was designed to produce faith so that we might have life cf. The gospel of john is the fourth of the canonical gospels. John chapter 2 kjv king james version 1 and the third day there was a marriage in cana of galilee. Saint john the apostle, on patmos, writing the book of revelation, detail of a. This emphasis by john, while striking, is not without love.
John recognized that love comes from god, and he encouraged the believers to love one another 1 john 4. I looked up book of john and halfway down the first chapter i saw philip. The gospels, the first four books of the new testament, tell the story of the life of jesus. This john later became influential among asiatic churches.
John s first epistle teaches that while it is important to recognize the lines between truth and error, it must always be done in a spirit. The tradition from the earliest days of the church has been that the apostle john is the author. Its purpose was to warn about the increasing threat of false teachings and to reassure christians of their faith and love in jesus christ. He shows us that jesus, though fully god, came in the flesh to distinctly and accurately reveal god, and that christ is the source of eternal life to all who believe in him. The author of the first letter is not identified, but the writer of the second and. Lying in the background of these three books is the ancient heresy of gnosticism, which taught, among other things, that the material body. Johns is the only one of the four not considered among the synoptic gospels i.
He may have been a first cousin of jesus his mother may have been salome, possibly a. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. The author of the first epistle is termed john the evangelist, who most scholars believe is not the same as john the apostle. At the center of the doctrinal controversy are people who do. There have been occasional doubts raised by those who thought it possible that this was written by another disciple of the lord named john, but all the evidence points to the author as john the beloved disciple who also wrote the. But no external evidence of any kind supports this theory. This ascetic form of gnosticism is the background of part of the letter to the colossians see col 2. John was born around christmas in 1166 or 1167 in oxford, the youngest and favourite son of henry ii.
Professor of classics and director of the religious studies program. The gospel of john is one of the most intriguing books of the bible. The gospel of john embedded in the socalled spiritual gospel is an architectural hostility toward judaism. Letters of john, three new testament writings, all composed sometime around. As an eyewitness to the love and power displayed in the miracles of jesus, john gives us an upclose and personal look at christs identity. The gospel of john was written to particular concerns of a specific group of christians in the last part of the first century.
A dear friend of john, whom he prayed would prosper physically as well as he did spiritually 3jn 12 2. Since the body was considered evil, it was to be treated harshly. In 2 john the author is writing to a particular congregation to warn the believers there against giving aid or shelter to the false teachers in their ongoing missionary efforts. The first epistle of john, often referred to as first john and written 1 john or i john, is the first. Referring to john and speaking to peter, the savior said. The key personalities of this book are jesus christ, his twelve disciples, mary magdalene, john the baptist, lazarus, his sisters mary and martha, jewish religious leaders. John founded and built churches all through asia until he was old, and died the sixtyeighth year after our lords passion, peacefully in ephesus. Sermons from third john the three men of third john 1. At the end of the 2nd century, polycrates, bishop of ephesus, claims that johns tomb is at ephesus, identifies him with the beloved disciple, and adds that he was a priest, wearing the sacerdotal plate, both martyr and teacher. Yet only onethe gospel of johnclaims to be an eyewitness account, the testimony of the unnamed disciple whom jesus loved. New testament papyrus 46, one of the oldest new testament papyri, showing 2 cor 11. Most modern scholars believe this is not john the apostle, but in general there is no consensus as to the.
In other words, what we can say about the identity of the recipients of 1 john and the other two johannine letters as well is inextricably linked to. Although 1 john does not exhibit some of the general. When he was released from exile, he returned to ephesus. We know that john was the younger brother of james and the son of zebedee mark 10. Johns background switcher for mac johns background switcher for windows then you can have beautiful desktop backgrounds like these. It was written by the discipleapostle john around 8595 a. In ii john, the apostle, wrote to warn believers about false teachers. Near the end of the 1st century, john was exiled to the island of patmos. The book of john is a gospel that contains narrative history, sermons, parables, and a few prophetic oracles. We get the vast majority of our information about john from the pages of the four gospels. On his fathers death in 1189 his brother, richard, became king. The content, style, and vocabulary seem to warrant the conclusion that these three epistles were addressed to the same readers as the gospel of john. Watch our overview video on the letters of john, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought.
It is the first and largest in a series of 3 epistles that bear the apostle johns name. A little background for 1 john in about 66 ad the apostle john left palestine and settled in ephesus, where he stayed about 30 years. Intro to 1 john biblica the international bible society. Traditionally, the authorship of 1, 2, and 3 john has been ascribed to the apostle, john son of zebedee, who also was understood to be the author of the gospel of john and revelation. No other book of the bible talks about love as often as first john. It gives a highly schematic account of the ministry of jesus, with seven signs culminating in the raising of lazarus foreshadowing the resurrection of jesus and seven i am discourses culminating in thomass proclamation of the risen jesus as my lord and my god, followed by a conclusion setting out the purpose of the gospel, that. He was a fisherman, one of jesus inner circle together with james and peter, and the disciple whom jesus loved jn. Confusion comes because of the statement in john 21. Existence of a john of jerusalem who had access into the high priests house was first proposed by h. Matthew, mark, and luke are often called the synoptic gospels. Voice bible studies, introduction to the gospel of john. That we might be sure to live the sort of life god offers through his son jesus christ, a careful study of first john is in order. Book of first john overview insight for living ministries. While the other gospels emphasize the kingdom of god and the kingdom of heaven, john instead emphasizes new life found in jesus.
The second epistle of john, often referred to as second john and often written 2 john or ii john, is a book of the new testament attributed to john the evangelist, traditionally thought to be the author of the other two epistles of john, and the gospel of john though this is disputed. In the third letter, john wrote to commend, encourage, and instruct his good friend gaius. John so loved and prayed for gaius, because he was a man who. The story of the storytellers the gospel of john from. The book of 3 john does not directly name its author. This ascetic form of gnosticism is the background of part of the letter to the colossians col 2. Synoptic is a greek word meaning having a common view. Though not directly stated, we know that john was called the beloved disciple, or the disciple whom jesus loved john 21. Within this gospel is the most profound expressions of the deity of jesus christ and the most concrete statements on the humanity of jesus of nazareth. The key personalities are the apostles peter and paul.
The parallelisms in 1 john are striking for their simplicity. John the apostle, the beloved disciple of jesus, there has been considerable discussion of the actual. For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the father, and was manifested unto us. This view is the background of much of 1 john see 1.
About one in every 50 words is a form of lovethat makes for about 52 mentions of love in just five short chapters. However, it is the first epistle of john which discusses the nature of that life in greater detail e. The gospel of john presents a unique perspective on jesus. History of john the disciple of jesus jesus christ. Section 7, john the revelator church of jesus christ. The book of 1 john may be one of the most difficult books within the bible for the christian to understand, particularly in light of the plethora of scriptural passages in the new testament that clearly teach that eternal spirit salvation justification is by faith alone in christ alone.
The gospel of john was written to prove that jesus christ is the son of god. There is no scholarly consensus as to the authorship of the johannine works. Johns subsequent history is obscure and passes into the uncertain mists of legend. Gospel according to john, fourth of the four new testament narratives recounting the life and death of jesus christ. Studies from 1st, 2nd, and 3rd john bible study guide. Since the letter identifies no specific church, location, or individual to whom it was sent, its classification is as a general epistle. This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true john 21. This does have the advantage of still relying on eyewitness testimony. John 1 niv the word became flesh in the bible gateway.
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